Undergrad How to use astronomical spectra?

  • Thread starter Thread starter yucheng
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Spectra
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on utilizing astronomical spectra, specifically through the use of VOTables and FITS files. Users reported success in extracting 2D spectra data by employing the Python library Astropy, specifically the astropy.io.fits module. The FITS files contain flux versus wavelength data, which can also be represented in ASCII format. For visualization, users can plot the ASCII data to reproduce graphical representations of the spectra.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of FITS file format and its structure
  • Familiarity with Python programming
  • Knowledge of the Astropy library, particularly astropy.io.fits
  • Basic skills in data visualization techniques
NEXT STEPS
  • Learn how to manipulate FITS files using Astropy
  • Explore data visualization libraries in Python, such as Matplotlib
  • Research online guides for working with spectroscopic databases
  • Investigate the use of VOTables in astronomical data analysis
USEFUL FOR

Astronomers, data scientists, and researchers interested in analyzing and visualizing astronomical spectra data will benefit from this discussion.

yucheng
Messages
232
Reaction score
57
TL;DR
Trying to open a FITS file to view stellar spectra....
As suggested here

http://svocats.cab.inta-csic.es/miles/index.php?action=search

I tried downloading the VOTable, and FITS file (tried opening using Aladin and GIMP). However, when I open the file, I get a single line (I suppose the 2D spectra is contained in a single dimensional array?). Did I open it correctly? Is there any online guide for this? Is there a better way to view the spectra? Would you suggest some guides to using spectroscopic databases in general? Thanks!
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
What exactly are you looking for? The PNG file is a graph of the spectrum. The ASCII file is a text file with a table of the flux as a function of wavelength. If you plot those values you will reproduce the PNG file. The FITS file has the same flux vs wavelength data in FITS format.
 
I typically open FITS files using the python astropy.io.fits code, but it will give you the same table of flux vs wavelength that is in the ACSII file.
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MoM-z14 Any photon with energy above 24.6 eV is going to ionize any atom. K, L X-rays would certainly ionize atoms. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/whats-the-most-distant-galaxy/ The James Webb Space Telescope has found the most distant galaxy ever seen, at the dawn of the cosmos. Again. https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news/webb-mom-z14 A Cosmic Miracle: A Remarkably Luminous Galaxy at zspec = 14.44 Confirmed with JWST...

Similar threads

Replies
7
Views
3K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
807
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
Replies
1
Views
4K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
3
Views
1K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
5K